Pack Monadnock 06-3-2007

From Dave Dunham

Paul Low and Kelli Lusk (both Belchertown MA and Central Mass Striders) took victories for the second consecutive year at the challenging Pack Monadnock 10 Mile race. The 2nd race in the USATF-NE Mountain circuit scored 227 finishers, up by 52 over last year. Low ran conservatively, allowing a large pack to run with him through four miles. Teammate Jim Pawlicki stuck with Low through eight miles, where Low accelerated up the steep road to a 1:43 victory. Lusk ran the third fastest time ever on the women's list, only 45 shy of the course record which she set a year ago. The pair leads the circuit standings.

In age group competition, the performance of the day went to Kathy Maddock with a new course record of 1:17:42 which knocked 57 seconds off of the old CR. Maddock was also the top finisher for the GCS Triad which beat CSU by 1:14. Second and third place finishers Suzy West and Dorcas Wonsavage of CSU ran history's 5th and 9th fastest times respectively in the women’s 40+ category. Dave Dunham (Bradford MA) led the way in the men’s 40+ competition with his third place overall finish; this was Dunham’s 11th top five finish at Pack Monadnock. Teammate Rob Smith took second in the 40+.

In the 50+ age group, Brad Lebo finished 13th overall, running the 3rd fastest time ever. Lebo’s time was less than a minute behind Keith Woodward’s course record. Sinthy Kounlasa came up 8 seconds shy of the course record in the women’s 50+ running and excellent 1:33:19. Vinnie Rivard was the men’s 60+ champion in 1:27:26 and Jane Goodman (age 71) was the top 60+ women in 2:51:31.

The USATF-NE Mountain Circuit heads back to Massachusetts this weekend with the Northfield Mountain trail race. Northfield will serve as the USATF trail running championships. Over 100 USATF members ran at Pack Monadnock and now 23 women and 58 men have completed the first two races in the six race series.